Water sled



T. E. BLAKE Aug. 16, 1932.

WATER SLED Filed April 18. 1931 Thomas Edward Bill/i8 mvzuron 7' BY m iO W ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 16, 19,32

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca mom anwaan nun. emu, nomoa, cnrroma warm sunApplication fled April 18,

This invention relates to a water sled and has for the primary object,the provision of a device of the above stated character which isespecially adaptable for swimmers orbathers, whereby they may beefiiciently floated on the water and may propel the device with thehands and arms through the water at a very rapid speed and obviate theemployment of oars or paddles and further the device is capable ofmaintaining a number of people afloat, thereby providing a veryeflicient life saving device.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a water sled of theabove stated character which will be simple, durable and 2 ingdescription and accompanying drawing,

in which Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating a watersledconstructed in accordance w1th my invention.

Figure 2. is a plan view with the cover or deck removed from the hull.

Figure 3 is.a side elevation illustrat'ng the device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the reinforcingmeans for the hull.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating a vent device for thehull.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a hullincluding the sides 2 and bottom 3 which gradually taper from a pointintermediate its ends toward each end to form the bow 4 and stern 5. Thetaper of the bow 4 is greater than the taper of the stern to facilitatethe passage of the hull through the water.- As shown in Figure 3 theheight of the sides is comparatively o small so that a person lyinguponthe device 1931. Serial No. 531,193.

will be sup orted in close proximity to the surface of t e water wherebythe person may employ the hands and arms to propel the hull through thewater, using the arms in a paddling motion.

The bottom and sides of the hull are strengthened by a reinforcingstructure 6 constructed from a plurality of longitudinal andtransversely extending strips 7 and 8. The strips 7 and 8 are relativels aced to-form the reinforcing structure 0 a s eleton formation givinthe sides and bottom of the hull the deslred reinforcement andmaintaining the weight of the device to a minimum.

A cover or deck 9 is positioned over the upper edges of the sides of thehull on which a person may lie and is suitably secured to the sides.structed from any material suitable for the purpose and if constructedfrom light weight metal, the deck or cover may be welded to the sides.

The hull and deck may be con- The deck 9 adjacent the bow of the hull isprovided with an opening over which is positioned an apertured plate 10having an internally threaded neck 11 extending through the opening ofthe deck and normalthe hull of water which may have leaked into I thehull during the use of the device.

One of the principal advantages of 'device is its light weight so that aperson conveniently carry or handle the device and launch the same incase of emergency so that ly closed by a flanged and screw-threaded Tpersons in need of help within'ithe water may grasp the device andmaintain themselves afloat. Due to the construction and shape- 0i thedevice its buoyancyis of amaximum capacity, therefore anun ber ofpersonsresting or sitting uponthe/devme will be-niaintainedioo ferredembodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes inconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having thus descri ed my invention, what I claim is:

A water sled comprising a tapering bull including a bottom and narrowsides, a reinforcing structure located in the hull and en paging thebottom and sides and including ongitudinally and transversely arrangedstrips, a cover secured .to the upper edges of the sides for closing thehull and on which a person may lie and be supported in close proximityto the surface of the water to per mit pro ulsion of the hull throughthe water by t e legs and arms of the person, and means in the cover forventing the hull.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS EDWARD BLAKE.

